A local opposition TD is calling on the Government to form a dedicated transport police for the nation's bus and rail network.
Sinn Fein TD for Sligo Leitrim Martin Kenny believes that a new Garda Division is needed to cover issues such as anti social behaviour, drug and alcohol use and violence on public transport.
According to the local TD, the Minister for Justice last year denied there was a need for the unit and stated there were no plans for such a force in the Department of Justice.
Figures released to Shannonside FM under the Freedom of Information act last month showed over 125 complaints made to Iarnrod Eireann over issues on local rail routes.
These included harassment, anti social and lewd behaviour towards other passengers.
Deputy Kenny believes many people are choosing not to take public transport because they don't feel safe.
He's urging the Minister for Justice and Minister for Transport to re-examine their opposition to a proposed Transport Policing Unit.
''It's long past time that this issue was dealt with. It will require, I think, the establishment of a division of An Garda Siochana to do it. And that will mean that they will have to be diverted from other areas and we know that, but clearly it's one of the points that we need to deal with. I mean, we wouldn't consider ourselves as a society dealing with the drug epidemic adequately if we didn't have a drug squad, and it's similar in this kind of situation.''
